The vi–ii–V–I chord progression in A# major is the chord sequence Gm – Cm – F – A#. It starts on the vi, walks down through the ii to the V and resolves to the tonic — a longer, smoother version of ii–V–I. This page gives you the full sequence bar by bar, when to use it, variations and the same progression in other keys.
What is the vi–ii–V–I chord progression in A# major?
The vi–ii–V–I chord progression in A# major is a progression in A# major with the degrees vi–ii–V–I and the chord sequence Gm – Cm – F – A#. The chords are diatonic to A# major except where the progression itself calls for a borrowed or altered chord, and the table below shows every chord in order with its degree.
| Bar | Degree | Chord |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | vi | Gm |
| 2 | ii | Cm |
| 3 | V | F |
| 4 | I | A# |
Gm is the minor chord built from G, A#, D. In the vi–ii–V–I chord progression in A# major it appears 1 time, and its job is to anchor the progression as the tonic — the chord the phrase returns to. Learn it on its own page — Gm guitar chord — and practise the change into it from the chord before it in the sequence above.
Cm is the minor chord built from C, D#, G. In the vi–ii–V–I chord progression in A# major it appears 1 time, and its job is to add colour and movement between the anchor chords. Learn it on its own page — Cm guitar chord — and practise the change into it from the chord before it in the sequence above.
F is the major chord built from F, A, C. In the vi–ii–V–I chord progression in A# major it appears 1 time, and its job is to add colour and movement between the anchor chords. Learn it on its own page — F guitar chord — and practise the change into it from the chord before it in the sequence above.
A# is the major chord built from A#, D, F. In the vi–ii–V–I chord progression in A# major it appears 1 time, and its job is to add colour and movement between the anchor chords. Learn it on its own page — A# guitar chord — and practise the change into it from the chord before it in the sequence above.
When to use it
The vi–ii–V–I chord progression in A# major feels jazzy, flowing and elegant, and it is used most in jazz and sophisticated pop. It starts on the vi, walks down through the ii to the V and resolves to the tonic — a longer, smoother version of ii–V–I. That feel is the reason to choose this progression: when the music needs that mood, this sequence delivers it with the least effort, because the chords do the emotional work for you.
Over the vi–ii–V–I chord progression in A# major, the scales that fit best are the A# major scale, A# minor pentatonic scale, A# blues scale. The major scale fits the major chords, the minor pentatonic fits almost everything in the progression, and the blues scale adds the flattened notes that suit the dominant 7th chords where the progression has them. Start by soloing with the minor pentatonic scale over the whole progression, then try the major scale over the tonic chord and listen to how the colour changes. The Chord Progression Builder lets you hear the vi–ii–V–I chord progression in A# major in any key, and the Progression Finder identifies a progression from its chords.
Variations
Extending the V to F7: Gm – Cm – F7 – A#. Turn the V chord into F7 by adding the flattened 7th. The dominant 7th pulls harder toward the tonic, so the resolution feels stronger.
Playing it slower: Gm – Cm – F – A#. Play the vi–ii–V–I chord progression in A# major at half tempo with each chord for two bars instead of one. The slower pace lets each chord ring and shows how the progression breathes, which is the best way to learn its shape before you play it at full speed.
The same progression in other keys
The same progression in other keys is vi–ii–V–I in C major, vi–ii–V–I in C# major, vi–ii–V–I in D major, vi–ii–V–I in D# major. The degrees stay the same — vi–ii–V–I — and only the chords change, because each key has its own set of diatonic chords. Learning the vi–ii–V–I chord progression in A# major as a pattern of degrees, rather than as a list of chord names, is what lets you play it in any key: the pattern is portable, the chords are not. Try the progression in the key a fourth above A# major next, then a fifth above, and use the Chord Transposer to move the whole sequence to a new key in one step. The key pages for those keys — for example the key of C major — list the diatonic chords you will need.
Practising the vi–ii–V–I chord progression in A# major
A good way to practise the vi–ii–V–I chord progression in A# major is to play it three times in a row without stopping: once slowly, once at a comfortable tempo, and once while humming a simple melody over the top. The melody does not need to be clever — three or four notes from the key of A# major are enough — because the point is to hear how the chords support a melody, not to write a song. Then try the progression with a different rhythm: play each chord as an arpeggio instead of a block chord, or strum it with a pattern from the Strumming Pattern Finder and keep time with the Metronome. The sequence is Gm – Cm – F – A# and the degrees are vi–ii–V–I; once you can play it without looking at the page, you know the vi–ii–V–I chord progression in A# major.
For a second practice step, take the vi–ii–V–I chord progression in A# major apart chord by chord. Play the first chord on its own and hold it for two bars, listening to its sound in the key of A# major, then add the second chord, then the third, until the whole sequence Gm – Cm – F – A# is running. That slow build is the fastest way to learn a progression, because it teaches you the change between each pair of chords rather than the sequence as a blur. When the changes are clean at a slow tempo, raise the tempo a little at a time with the Metronome, and try the progression in the neighbouring keys linked above, where the degrees vi–ii–V–I stay the same and only the chord names change.
Frequently asked questions
What chords are in the vi–ii–V–I chord progression in A# major?
The vi–ii–V–I chord progression in A# major uses the chords Gm – Cm – F – A#. Those chords, in that order, are the whole progression — play them one per bar and you are playing the progression as written.
What key is the vi–ii–V–I chord progression in A# major in?
It is in A# major. The degrees are vi–ii–V–I, and the chords are the diatonic chords of that key, so the progression belongs to A# major and the scales of that key fit over it.
How many chords are in the vi–ii–V–I chord progression in A# major?
There are 4 chords in the sequence, with 4 distinct chords: Gm, Cm, F, A#. The repeated chords are part of the pattern — repetition is what makes a progression memorable.
What scale should I play over the vi–ii–V–I chord progression in A# major?
The A# major scale, the A# minor pentatonic scale and the A# blues scale all fit, as explained in the section above. Start with the minor pentatonic, which fits over the whole progression, and add the major scale over the tonic chord.
Can I play the vi–ii–V–I chord progression in A# major in another key?
Yes. The degrees stay the same — vi–ii–V–I — and only the chords change. The section above links the same progression in other keys, and the Chord Transposer moves the whole sequence to any key you choose.